Psychotropic Drugs: Definition, Uses and Side Effects

As of 2022, 24% of Americans were taking psychiatric medications of some kind.¹ These psychotropic drugs are used to treat mental health disorders.

What Are Psychotropic Drugs?

Treatment providers often combine these prescriptions with psychotherapies and other methods to address mental health issues. The right combination of treatment and medication can transform a person’s life. However, like all medications, potential side effects and risks are involved. This guide offers an overview of psychotropic drugs and their role in treating mental health disorders.

Psychotropic drugs affect thoughts, mood, and behavior. They work by regulating receptors and transmitters in the brain. Because mental health disorders can result from an imbalance of brain chemicals, these medications can provide relief by restoring a healthier chemical balance.²

Types of Psychotropic Drugs

This class of drugs includes five main categories of medications that are prescribed to treat a full range of mental health disorders.

Antidepressants

These are the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications. Antidepressants impact the brain’s serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels, which regulate emotion. Increasing these levels can combat the symptoms of depression. Types of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclics.³ Commonly prescribed antidepressants include Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, and Pamelor.

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics, also known as neuroleptics, are used to address symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions and hallucinations. They come in two forms: antipsychotic medications and atypical antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics are more commonly used because they have fewer side effects and have proven effective, especially in treating schizophrenia.⁴ Clozapine, Risperidone, and Olanzapine are some commonly prescribed antipsychotics.

Anti-Anxiety Drugs

Anti-anxiety medications include anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics. These medications limit the physical and emotional effects of anxiety disorders by making the person feel calmer and more relaxed. Benzodiazepines (benzos) are the most well-known anti-anxiety medications.⁵ Commonly prescribed benzos include Xanax, Ativan, and Valium.

Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers work by reducing “abnormal” activity in the brain. These drugs are usually used to treat mental health conditions that involve radical mood swings, such as bipolar disorder.⁶ Mood stabilizers include quetiapine, lithium, and valproic acid.

Stimulants

Stimulants increase the activity of the central nervous system and can be used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and other conditions.⁷ Commonly prescribed stimulants include Adderall, Ritalin, and Dexedrine.

Uses for Psychotropic Drugs

Medical professionals may prescribe psychotropic drugs to address the following mental health disorders:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia
• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
• Insomnia
• SAD (seasonal affective disorder)

Psychotropics are often combined with psychotherapy to treat these disorders. The medication can lessen symptoms, so the person has a more stable mindset to address underlying issues of their mental health condition. Combined treatment may involve therapy, life skills development, and holistic treatments.

Side Effects of Psychotropic Drugs

As with any medication, there are risk factors involved with the use of psychotropic drugs.

Possible side effects for each type of psychotropic include:

• Antidepressants: Weight gain, fatigue, drowsiness, and loss of sexual function
• Antipsychotics: Dry mouth, digestive issues, nausea, and blurred vision.
• Anti-anxiety drugs: Weight gain, dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea.
• Mood stabilizers: Diarrhea, vomiting, skin rash, and constipation
• Stimulants: Weight loss, insomnia, chest pain, and headaches.

Less common, serious side effects include:

• Suicidal thoughts
• Seizures
• Mania
• Allergic reaction

Risks of Psychotropic Drug Use

In addition to the potential side effects, use of psychotropic drugs can involve other health risks. These include:

Heightened Symptoms: Research has revealed that psychotropic drugs can cause an initial worsening of symptoms. To minimize this risk, medical providers recommend starting with a low initial dose and only increasing this dosage if necessary.⁸

Addiction: Many psychotropic drugs can be addictive. Benzodiazepines are among the biggest concerns regarding addiction. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) updated its box warning in 2020 to reflect that benzodiazepine use can lead to misuse, drug abuse, and addiction even when taken at recommended dosages.⁹

Drug Interactions: Potentially dangerous drug interactions occur when a substance, such as another medication, food, or alcohol, interacts with psychotropic medications. The most severe interactions with psychotropics can result in profound sedation, central nervous system toxicity, increased risk of severe side effects, and a high heart rate that can lead to a heart attack.¹⁰

Overdose and Death: It is possible to overdose on psychotropic drugs. Not only can someone take more than prescribed, but the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) also warns of the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs deceptively marked as legitimate prescription pills. Just a tiny amount of this lethal opioid can kill, and the psychotropics Xanax and Adderall are among the drugs commonly counterfeited.¹¹

Reducing the Risks of Psychotropic Drugs

The primary way to minimize the risks associated with psychotropic drug use is to work closely with a medical professional and take the medication only as prescribed. Your doctor will be able to work with you to ensure that the drugs you are prescribed are as effective as possible while limiting the risk of side effects and withdrawal symptoms.

For some people, finding the right combination and dosage of psychotropic drugs can take time. But once you do, the effect on your condition and your life can be dramatic. Combined with other forms of mental health treatment, psychotropics can help you on your journey toward mental health recovery.

Resources

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3. NHS. (n.d.). Overview – Antidepressants. Overview – Antidepressants. Retrieved August 28, 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/overview/
4. Chokhawala, K., & Stevens, L. (2023, February 26). Antipsychotic medications. NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519503/
5. Understanding generalized anxiety disorder — treatment. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved August 28, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/understanding-anxiety-treatment#
6. Nath, M., & Gupta, V. (2023, April 24). Mood stabilizers. NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556141/
7. Farzam, K., Faizy, R. M., & Saadabadi, A. (2023, July 2). Stimulants. NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539896/
8. How psychotropic drugs are used; an explanatory paradigm. (n.d.). Journal of Medical Hypotheses and Ideas, 9(2), S24–S30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmhi.2016.02.001
9. Evaluation, C. for D. & Research. (n.d.). FDA  requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved August 28, 2023, from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requiring-boxed-warning-updated-improve-safe-use-benzodiazepine-drug-class
10. Chadwick, B., Waller, D. G., & Edwards, J. G. (n.d.). Potentially hazardous drug interactions with psychotropics. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 11(6), 440–449. https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.11.6.440
11. DEA issues public safety alert on sharp increase in fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and meth. (n.d.). DEA. Retrieved August 28, 2023, from https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2021/09/27/dea-issues-public-safety-alert